The persistent power outages at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, have sparked widespread outrage among the people of Ibadan, traditional chiefs, the Ibadan Compound Peace Initiative (ICPI), and other concerned stakeholders. These power failures have significantly disrupted critical healthcare services, affecting countless lives, especially those of vulnerable patients relying on the hospital’s facilities.
Stakeholders expressed frustration over the worsening situation, describing the hospital as a critical institution not just for Ibadan but for the entire Southwest and Nigeria. Many have lamented that lives are being endangered daily due to the lack of electricity in essential units of the hospital.
This issue has been a recurring source of discontent. A few months ago, patients staged protests against the inadequate healthcare delivery caused by power outages. More recently, students of the University of Ibadan joined in voicing their concerns by protesting the situation.
In a statement, the ICPI Coordinator, speaking on behalf of the stakeholders, called on the government and relevant authorities to act swiftly to resolve the crisis. “UCH is a heritage of not just Ibadan but the entire Southwest and Nigeria. How many lives must be lost before something is done?” the statement read.
The stakeholders revealed that the hospital’s financial struggles have been exacerbated by its reclassification from IBEDC’s Band B to Band A, resulting in a monthly electricity bill increase from ₦20 million to an unsustainable ₦99 million. They questioned the fairness of such charges on a critical health institution, urging IBEDC to provide concessions to teaching hospitals like UCH, given their essential role in healthcare delivery.
Efforts by the UCH management to address the crisis, including reaching out to government officials, the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), and local groups like the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), have so far yielded no results.
“Where are our political leaders in this matter?” the statement asked. “The hospital has sent numerous letters to the state governor, the federal government, and IBEDC, but there has been no meaningful response. When will the Independent Power Project (IPP) promised by the state government come into effect? How many more people need to die before the federal ministry of power steps in?”
Stakeholders also highlighted that while political leaders and affluent individuals often travel abroad for medical care, the poor are left to suffer the consequences of these power outages. They called for the immediate restoration of power to UCH, emphasizing that the situation is unacceptable.
“Ibadan people are not happy. Mogajis are not happy. Poor people are dying daily. Power must be restored to UCH now, unconditionally,” the statement concluded.
The Students Forum Nigeria serves as the ultimate hub for Nigerian students, fostering academic growth, social engagement, and knowledge sharing.
